Exploring Our "Big" Backyard

About the Book

Exploring Our "Big" Backyard is a book that can be used for educating young children to the natural world around them through photographs and text as well as providing an enjoyable story for reading. This book can help adults teach children about the wonders of nature that surround them everyday in their backyards, neighborhood parks, school yards, and as they travel in the car, van, or bus. The types of subjects will vary depending on the geographic area, but the theme of the book will create awareness of what children see in the natural world around them on a daily basis. This first book has been evaluated by a group of elementary school teachers and received very positive remarks from the teachers. They used the book as part of their teaching program for reading and introduction to the natural world. In the back of the book are some questions that can be used as a part of the teaching process. This first book covers mainly song birds. Our plan is to publish additional books covering more creatures to be discovered in the big backyard. It is our sincere hope that exploring our big backyard will help children and adults discover the wonderful world of nature all around us and that you will cherish the time spent reading and learning together.

About the Author

Gary has been photographing our natural world since 1980. His interest in photography started as a result of his hunting and fishing as a young boy growing up in rural Guilford County, North Carolina. Those early years instilled a love of the outdoors and he has continued to pursue that love by looking through the camera lens and sharing the beauty he sees with his photography. He has been published in numerous books, brochures, calendars, business reports and magazines. Some of his credits include Nature's Best magazine, Birder's World, Quail Unlimited, Stackpole's Bird Book Series, Reiman's Birds & Blooms and their calendars, Cornell University, Outdoor Photographer, National Geographic, Virginia Wildlife, Piedmont Land Conservancy and Audubon. He is a member of several stock agencies. His wife Janice has assisted him over the years and this is their first book. Together they conduct photo weekends at their home and emphasize exploring the things that are often taken for granted in our backyards. Our hope is that the story and the photos will help teach young children and adults the wonders that surround each of them everyday.